Library of America:
The Civil War Told by Those Who Lived It

“Hundreds of selections from scores of eyewitnesses, both North and South, in the heat of battle and at the home front, from November 1860 to June 1865.” 

First Year | Second Year | Third Year | Final Year

This series inspired our participatory program format of interspersed contemporary songs and texts.  The approach allows us to hear directly from the words of the people who experienced the events, with minimal (but helpful) editorial commentary, and a great deal of context through the accumulation and juxtaposition of perspectives.